Fluxing stick



F. D. M BRIDE FLUXING STICK Nov. 4, 1952 Filed March 11, 1948 FIG. 2.

FIG.

FIG. 3.

FIG.

FIG. 2'

' INVENTOR.

FRANK 0. Mc BRIDE ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 4, 1952 waist ,EFKCE rea 1?, he iii i a ph a Baanamanian; ii, 4%

e aptedr r se n olde in time, d: i e

oper tions, nd mo e articular y t i stick wh ch in solid t rm com rises flu an sti lmo epar eulerly h i' xme s ck a d n to this invention may include solder in addition to. flux adapting it to be used directly for tinnin as well. as r m n d .4 1 1% 9. ts pr ll FiQ E h -flexin stich eeee dih to t s n on i distinguished from fluxes heretoforeknown in tha om ose flu o Without a y b ndi or filling agent or compression, it-is homoge- 'neousst'one-lilge, solid -form, is rigid and selfust ini unaf cted b mo he i wi n ature, and in one form protected against absorp& tion of moisture. The sticlg is adapted; for direct application to the work and where, as it may, it

contains solder in addition to flux, is adapted for use to effect tinning by direct application-to the work- 7 Heretofore fluxes have been provided in gran? ular anda e orms an var o y n stick f r However, fluxes in sticl; form as heretofore lgnown have included a binding agent, such as a wax, as beeswax, or grease, as petroleum, or

both in very large proportion relative to the flux content and as a consequence were of little prac-'- tical value because of their low flux content'and their tendency to deform and to become messy under temperature and humidity conditions such asexist in summer. In distinction, the fluxing stick according to this invention comprises 100% flux'unco mpressed and free from any other ingiredient, exceptas it may contain solder, yet it is solid, self-sustaining and will not deform under atmospheric temperatures.

From the broad standpoint the fluxing stick according to this'invention comprises ammonium chl i e, z nc h or e a z he' x de' f qtivalehtly in ar na e -z ne h dr de P o u e y. Wine he th get ihtda homo e e us mass orsolution' and cooling in a moldoffde-I sired size n -shape. v i

In forming thestick the ammonium chloride and zinc chloride" may be used in widely varying pro or on a o e ample, hlori 10%90% to ammonium chloride 90 1 Q'%. As an e e o p fer nce he d i bl 'sal Zinc monium chloride/comprising zinc chloride 56% and ammonium chloride 44% will be used; The zinc oxide will be in about molar proportion with the ammonium chloride, i. e., in amount of about 75% by weight of the amount of ammonium chloride, or" where the double salt is-used in amount of about 33% by wei htof the double In proceeding for the formation of the fluxing stick by the method accordingto this invention, the zinc chloride, ammonium ehloride-ior'the double salt) and zinc o id wi l be el ed together at a temperature at which they will form a clear homogeneo'usmixtu're or solution. The {orniaitiein of a clear homogeneous miXfi Eo'r ,efia lil have solution will be accompanied by the evolution of some'water'vapor and'a very slight amount of ammonia indicating a partial reaction'bet'ween the ammonium chloride'a'nd the zinc oxide. The useof temperature substantially beyond that necessary to efiect the f ormation of a homogeneousmixt'iire orsolution is to be avoided in er to a i arryin "the eac n bet the ammonium chloride'andzincoxide beyond that Occu rin a th tem rature at which al wg eneous mixture or solution will b formed. generally spealging, depending upon the particular" proportions oi the ingredients, a homogeneous'mixture or solutioh will be formed at a em er ure ith n ab ut the range 2 0 300 F., Well below the temperature necessary to complete reaction betwe'e'n'the ammonium chloride and the zinc oxide,

"When the ingredients have been formed into a homogeneous mixture or solution; the mixture is pouredinto molds of desired size and shape antl eoe edi '6 "P rm d to c l and become solid when'it is ready for use as such, or packa d, as w lep eai 'he hai e It will bdajppfeciated hat'the stick is formed without the use of pressure or of binding agents, but rather by the heating of the ingredients together to for-m ahomogeneous mixture or solution, with partial reaction 'of the ammonium chloride and Zinc oxide; which occurs, it is believed, by 'thefact that the several ingredients are rendered mutually soluble.

In use c me'suu; in" tinning, soldering, and the "like" operations, the temperature'to' which the stick is" subjecte is greatly higher, sayof the order of 500) F., and the 'fiux becomes operative through completion" of the reaction between the mniohi m h drid'e and in xid h e W utio' 'c a 'vanoran a m ni i large qfiamity; v

When t i d s re to ncl de older n the st c uc w ll he" accomp he r a le, hum in granulated" S der w e homogene ds mixture or soluticihb o mo d y inse ing'a pluralityot'lengths, as wiresg'of solder lieih' f n themq'ld? by i s i a core f to the'flu t e eld, Q'r'by molding as acore into a length of solder, or in ther de ired m hnen' t' he noted that in 4 will 'melt at a lower temperature than the solde a d l clea d o i i d p car a I I es: at he h s ld r meltsend s'iireedsb he sil ia e; it w ll e ie tl bon meretg a h 1 s a s ecific e ample o a durin st ck ac o dhis "to thisflv n o'ri'a d'o the m thod a cording to'thisinvention, parts by weight-of zinc ammonium chloride double salt and 33*parts by'wei'g'li of zinc oxideare' heated together at a temperater" r 'about' 25o F; until a completely aemogeuecu liquid -m'ass'br solution formed with partiarreamien between the zinc oxide and the" ammonium chloride ofthe doublesalt, as indicated by the evolution of some water and a slight amount of ammonia. The homogenous mass or solution when formed is poured into molds of suitable size and shape and permitted to cool. If desired, though not necessarily, solder may be included as indicated above and the stick may be packaged, as will hereinafter appear.

The fluxing stick according to this invention, while it may be used as formed, with or without the inclusion of solder, as described above, will desirably, in accordance with more specific aspects of this invention, be packaged for its protection against absorption of moisture and for convenience in use.

In the accompanying drawing by which preferred embodiments of this invention are illustrated:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal view of a packaged fiuxing stick according to this invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the subject of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the fluxing stick contained in the package shown in Figure 1.

Figures 5-8 are cross-sectional views, on an enlarged scale, of modifications of the fluxing stick illustrated by Figure 4.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1-4, A indicates a fluxing stick of the composition and formed by the method described above. In the form illustrated the stick A is of cylindrical form, but it will be appreciated that it may have any other desired form and dimensions.

The stick A is enclosed in a metal casing B, which will protect the stick A from atmospheric moisture. The metal casing may be of any suitable metal, as tin, aluminum, zinc, lead, or the like, or, as will appear, may be formed of solder and will conform to the shape of the stick A. The metal casing may be open at both ends, but desirably will be of the order of a collapsible tube closed at one end I) and open at the other end to enable the composition forming the stick to be molded directly into the metal casing as a mold. The end, or ends, of the stick A at the open end, or ends, of the casing will be coated with wax, petrolatum, or other moisture-resistant material C, to close the open end, or ends, of the tube for protection of the stick against moisture.

The metal encased stick will in turn be encased in an outer container conforming to the shape of the stick and comprising a pair of separate members D, D' carrying, respectively, end caps 11 and d. The member D will be of substantially little extent with respect to the stick A, while the member D will cover the balance of the stick from the closed end I) of the casing B, if it have a closed end, and will be removable and replaceable. The members D, D and the end caps 12, d may be made of any suitable material, preferably a material of low heat conductivity, as, for example, cardboard or fibre board.

The structure illustrated by Figures 1-4 may be stocked indefinitely without deterioration of the stick A, since the stick is protected from moisture or humidity by the metal casing B sealed by the wax or petrolatum C. When the stick is to be used in a tinning, soldering, or the like, operation, the member D with its cap 11' is slid off the stick and the end of the stick applied to the suitably heated work by grasping the member D, which will protect the users hand from heat conducted through the stick from the stick and the structure may then be carried in I the pocket, tool kit, or as may be desired until needed.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 5-8, these figures illustrate modified forms of the stick A shown in Figures 1-4.

Figure 5 illustrates the inclusion in the stick A of lengths of solder E, which extend the length of the stick, as it were, as in a matrix of the flux composition, and may be cylindrical, in number and arranged as shown, or of any other desired shape, number and arrangement.

Figure 6 illustrates the provision of a core of solder E in the stick A, while Figure 7 illustrates a stick of flux A encased as a core in a casing of solder E". In this case the metal casing B is unnecessary.

Figure 8 illustrates the stick as formed from a mixture of the flux ingredients with particles of solder E', as, for example, granulated solder. In this case the flux serves as a matrix for the particles of solder.

The several forms of stick shown by Figures 5-8 will be encased in the capped members D, D and will be used in the manner of use of the form shown in Figures 1-4, except that since the stick A contains solder, they may be used for tinning rather than for fiuxing only.

It will be appreciated that the particular description and specific examples of fiuxing sticks and method for their production given above is not intended to be in limitation of this invention since various modifications in the particular disclosure may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

A fiuxing stick comprising a solid, rigid, elongated stick of flux consisting essentially of zinc chloride, ammonium chloride and zinc oxide,

a metal casing closed at one end and opened at the other end and surrounding said flux and a coating of fusible moisture resistant material on said flux adjacent the open end of said casing.

2. A fiuxing stick according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that a second casing formed from material of low heat conductivity and having a removable end cap embraces said first mentioned casing.

FRANK D. McBRIDE.

REFERENCES C ITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

1. A FLUXING STICK COMPRISING A SOLID, RIGID, ELONGATED STICK OF FLUX CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF ZINC CHLORIDE, AMMONIUM CHLORIDE AND ZINC OXIDE, A METAL CASING CLOSED AT ONE END AND OPENED AT THE OTHER END AND SURROUNDING SAID FLUX AND A COATING OF FUSIBLE MOISTURE RESISTANT MATERIAL ON SAID FLUX ADJACENT THE OPEN END OF SAID CASING. 